Romania: Alexandra Căpitănescu wins Selecția Națională 2026 with ‘Choke Me’


It’s been three years since Romanian broadcaster TVR last hosted Selecția Națională. The show returned this Wednesday, 4 March, with Alexandra Căpitănescu emerging as the winner. 

Following an extensive audition process with several stages, which began with 101 songs submitted to the broadcaster, the list was eventually whittled down to 12 acts performing at the TVR Studios in Bucharest. In running order, they were:

Emy Alupei – ‘Tili Bom’

Robert Lukian – ‘Fire to the Lies’

Vanu – ‘Therapy Enemy’

Edward Maya x LavBbe x Costi – ‘Everybody Needs Somebody’

Yguana – ‘Happy Birthday’

HVNDS – ‘Dor’

Antonio Pican – ‘Humans’

WRS – ‘All the Way’

Olivia Addams – ‘Croco’

Monica Odagiu – ‘Fereastră pentru un orb’

Alexandra Căpitănescu – ‘Choke Me’

Alejandro Zandes & Emil Rengle – ‘Bailando solo’

The winner of The Voice of Romania 2023 came out on top, with HVNDS and Alejandro Zandes & Emil Rengle rounding out the top three. Selecția Națională 2022 winner WRS also took part, having won one of the two wildcard tickets for the final.

Unlike any other national final this season, the decision was entirely up to a panel of judges. The panel consisted of Andreea Bălan, Andrei Tudor, Cristian Marica Rădoi, Cristian Tarcea, Doru Ionescu, Elena Popa and Marius Dia. The show was hosted by Daniel Nuță and Giulia Nahmany.

 

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